Prep playoff time: Pam Pack to battle the Vikings

Published 11:05 am Friday, November 9, 2007

By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
For the first time in eight years, the Washington Pam Pack football team will be hosting a playoff game.
That’s also the last time Washington won a playoff game, something fourth-year Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer looks to change when his team plays the South Granville Vikings tonight at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
Washington’s last playoff victory was a 51-7 nod over Eden Morehead on Nov. 12, 1999. The Pack also hosted Burlington Williams in the second round, where Washington fell 45-14.
The Pack, the No. 6 seed, and the Vikings, a No. 11 seed, enter tonight’s NCHSAA Class 3-A state playoff first-round game with identical 8-3 overall records. It’s the first meeting between these two programs.
Sawyer, like his players, is hoping for a big crowd at tonight’s game.
Washington junior quarterback Austin Thompson is hoping to see the fans packed at tonight’s playoff game.
Senior linebacker Cody Cunningham said his team can feed off a large, energized crowd.
South Granville’s eight wins are its most this decade. It’s also the first time the Vikings, under head coach Mike Hobgood, have enjoyed a winning season since 2000. The school’s previous best mark this decade was a 4-7 run in 2001. The eight wins matches the team’s win total from 2003-06 (8-36).
Washington is averaging 29.4 points and allowing 10.5 per game.
The 323 points scored by the Pack this season is the most since Washington put up 423 during the 1999 season, when the Pack finished 11-2.
Meanwhile, the 115 points the team has allowed is the fewest since surrendering just 65 points during a 9-1 campaign in 1982. The Pack defense is rated tops in the Coastal Conference, fifth out of the 97 3-A teams in the state and 22nd out of all 386 programs.
The Vikings, who went 4-1 in Mid-State Conference games and were winners in six of their last seven games, are averaging 26.6 points and allowing 13.7 per game.
Like Washington, who averages 280.5 yards rushing per game, South Granville relies heavily on the ground game. The Vikings, who use a two-headed approach, gain 238.5 yards rushing per outing.
Ian Bosley, a 5-8, 155-pound sophomore who wears No. 22, has run for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns on 229 carries. Bosley, who averages 6.3 yards-per-carry, has run for at least 120 yards in nine games this season, including a 175-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 35-32 loss to Southern Vance.
Tahjay McCain, a 5-10, 189-pounder who wears No. 21, complements Bosley well. McCain has rushed for 961 yards and 19 touchdowns on 173 carries. The senior, who averages 5.5 yards-per-carry, had scored at least four touchdowns on three separate occasions, including a five-touchdown, 151-yard effort in a 35-7 victory over Southern Alamance in the regular season finale.
McCain, who has returned one punt for a touchdown, leads the Vikings with 18 receptions for 187 yards.
South Granville quarterback Justin Williams, a 5-11, 156-pound senior who wears No. 3, has hit 47-of-93 passes (50.5 percent) for 629 yards. Williams, who has thrown for two touchdowns and five interceptions, has added 192 yards on the ground.
His receiving threats include Justin Norwood (10 catches for 151 yards), Chris Riley (eight receptions for 136 yards and a TD) and Darren Hart (three catches for 47 yards and a score).
Josh Conrad, a 6-1, 155-pound senior, handles the kicking and punting duties for the Vikings. Conrad is 29 of 37 on PATs and 8 of 15 on field goal attempts, which include successful boots of 41 and 40 yards. He averages 36.9 yards per punt.
Linebacker Joey Salter, a 5-8, 175-pound senior, leads South Granville with 105 tackles and five fumble recoveries. Josh Hurt, a 5-8, 190-pound sophomore, has added 90 tackles and 5-10, 208-pound junior defensive end Greg Koonce had 52 tackles and a team-best 7.5 quarterback sacks.
Seven different players on the Viking roster has come up with an interception this season.
Senior running back Travis Daniels spearheads the Washington offense. The 5-10, 175-pounder has rushed for 1,963 yards and 19 touchdowns on 225 carries, an 8.7 yards-per-carry average. Daniels, who has rushed for at least 113 yards in all 11 games, including games of 330 yards and four touchdowns along with 272 yards and two scores, has 4,841 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career.
Multi-threat Jamont Jones leads the Pack with 36 receptions for 578 yards and nine touchdowns, including 14 grabs for 280 yards and five touchdowns over the last three games. The 5-9, 170-pound senior has added 253 yards and two scores on the ground along with a kickoff return for a score.
Thompson has clicked on 60-of-113 passes (53.1 percent) for 918 yards, including 10-of-15 for 241 yards and four touchdowns in the last two games. The 6-1, 185-pounder has 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. Thompson has added 102 yards rushing and two scores.
Other offensive threats for the Pack include C.J. Jefferson (244 yards rushing and four scores), Mike Moore (17 receptions for 303 yards and four touchdowns) and Dakuan Spencer (11 grabs for 79 yards and two touchdowns).
Justin Meekins, a 6-1, 185-pound junior, has been solid all season handling the kicking and punting chores. Meekins has converted 41 of 48 PATs, while averaging 35.5 yards per punt.
Cunningham leads the Pack with 96 tackles. Chase Tripp, a junior defensive end, has added 79 stops, including 18 tackles-for-loss and 10 quarterback sacks. Sophomore linebacker Justin “Weasel” Moore is third on the team with 73 tackles.
Defensive lineman D.J. McKinney has come up with six quarterback sacks and a team-high four fumble recoveries.
Jones leads Washington with seven interceptions, including picks in the last two games. Tony Turnage has five to his credit, while Spencer has four, including one that he returned for a touchdown.
The winner of tonight’s game, which kicks off at 7:30, plays the survivor between second-ranked and No. 3 seed Rocky Mount (11-0) and No. 14 seed Union Pines (7-4) in next week’s second-round game.
PLAYOFF GAME CHANGES
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for tonight's playoff game.
All fans must enter through the main gate at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium. The pass gate on the opposing side will not be opened.
The cost for a playoff ticket, which is set by the state, is $6.
No local sport passes will be honored for state playoff games.
Washington Pam Pack
Coastal Conference
Head Coach: Sport Sawyer
8-3, 5-2 Coastal
No. 6 seed
Average offense: 29.4 points (323)
Average defense: 10.5 points (115)
Results
North Pitt 35-13
Tarboro 21-25
Northside 48-8
Nash Central 30-7
D.H. Conley 35-0
South Central 47-6
West Craven 14-13
J.H. Rose 7-19
New Bern 13-14
Havelock 34-0
West Carteret 47-10
South Granville Vikings
Mid-State Conference
Head Coach: Mike Hobgood
8-3,4-1 Mid-State
No. 11 seed
Average offense: 26.6 points (293)
Average defense: 13.7 points (151)
Results
Franklin 52-6
Southern Vance 32-35
Orange 20-10
Eastern Randolph 6-14
East Chapel Hill 34-6
Bartlett-Yancey 24-0
Oxford Webb 23-13
Northern Vance 24-13
Eastern Alamance 16-33
Walter Williams 27-14
Southern Alamance 35-7
A look back at Washington’s last playoff win
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington will look to reverse its trend of early exits from the NCHSAA state football playoffs when it plays host to South Granville tonight.
The Pam Pack, which will be making its 15th playoff appearance since 1972, holding a 2-14 record in 14 previous postseason appearances in the last 35 years.
The Pam Pack will be hosting its first playoff game since 1999. The Pack played two home playoff games that year as the No. 3 seed, beating Eden Morehead 51-7 on Nov. 12, 1999 and then falling 45-14 to Burlington Williams on Nov. 19, 1999.
Coach Brian Paschal guided Washington to its last playoff win with the victory over the Eden Morehead Panthers.
took a 51-7 victory over Eden Morehead in that game, coming Nov. 12.
Quarterback Rufus Wilson started the scoring with a 1-yard plunge on the opening drive. Abbott Tunstall added the PAT for a quick 7-0 lead.
Phonzie Gibbs helped push the lead to 20-0 with a pair of 6-yard scoring sprints.
Raymond Thomas had a 20-yard TD run, getting a big block from Jed Spain in the process, and Wilson’s 2-point conversion pass to Terrance Copper pushed the advantage to 28-0 at the half.
Thomas bolted in from 5 yards out in the third quarter to extend the lead to 34-0.
After Eden Morehead got on the scoreboard, Tunstall’s 31-yard field goal made it 37-7 early in the fourth.
Gibbs added his third touchdown of the night on an 11-yard run, while T.J. Peele capped the scoring with a 19-burst late in the fourth.
Gibbs ran for 121 yards and the three scores on 21 carries, while Peele tallied 100 yards on 11 totes.
Wilson completed 10-of-19 passes for 149 yards, hitting Copper four times for 48 yards and Gilbert Rutledge three times for 59 yards.
The Pack’s season came to an end the following week with the loss to the Burlington Williams Bulldogs.
Williams jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Wilson’s 1-yard TD plunge, set up by his 45-yard strike to Copper, got the Pack on the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs answered with 31 consecutive points to take a 45-7 lead.
Copper’s 31-yard touchdown strike from Wilson capped the scoring.
The 1999 Washington squad became just the third team in school history to record 11 wins in a season.
Gibbs ran for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns that season, while Wilson passes for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Raymond Thomas added 10 rushing touchdowns and some 800 yards on the ground.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
As a No. 14 seed, lost 35-12 to Western Alamance in the first round of the 2006 state playoffs.
As a No. 12 seed, lost 23-20 to Grays Creek in the first round of the 2005 state playoffs.
As a No. 14 seed, lost 50-14 to Wilson Hunt in the first round of the 2004 state playoffs.
As a No. 15 seed, lost 35-14 to Manteo in the first round of the 2002 state playoffs.
As a No. 2 seed, lost by forfeit to Greensboro Dudley in the first round of the 2001 state playoffs after it was determined the Pam Pack had used an ineligible player during the course of the season.
As a No. 3 seed, beat Eden Morehead 51-7 in the first round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 45-15 to Burlington Williams in the second round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 34-14 to Oxford in the first round of the 1998 state playoffs.
Lost 35-14 to Western Guilford in the first round of the 1997 state playoffs.
Lost 36-12 to Oxford Webb in the first round of the 1996 state playoffs.
Lost 24-19 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1995 state playoffs.
Lost in the first round in 1994
Lost 47-7 to Tarboro in the first round of the 1993 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 22-7 in the first round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 30-22 to Eden Morehead in the second round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 28-20 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1988 state playoffs. It was the team’s first playoff appearance in 22 years.
Lost 23-7 to Roxboro in the first round of the 1966 state playoffs.
Lost 33-13 to Rockingham in the first round of the 1964 state playoffs.
Lost 7-0 to Hamlet in the first round of the 1963 state playoffs.
Beat Hillsboro Orange in the first round of the 1959 state playoffs. Lost to Rockingham 20-6 in the second round of the 1959 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 13-0 in the first round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Lost 33-6 to Canton Pisgah in the Class AA 1956 state finals.
Lost 48-19 to Henderson in the first round of the 1952 state playoffs.
It’s win or go home for prep football teams
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Reporter
The new prep season is set to kick off tonight as seven area teams (not including Washington) embark on the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
As of tonight, all teams are 0-0, and whether or not they play next week lies in their own hands.
This weekend there are six 1-A games that include area teams.
Here is a look at how the teams math up.
No. 16 Cape Hatteras (2-8) at No. 1 Plymouth (11-0)
The undefeated Vikings begin their playoff quest against Cape Hatteras, the 16th seed out of the Tideland Conference. Cape Hatteras has won only two games all season, and its chances of winning a third look very slim. Plymouth’s ground game, led by running backs Tobias Clagon and Andre Mitchell, has been extraordinary all season and there is no reason why it shouldn’t continue that trend tonight.
Though Plymouth faces an unfamiliar opponent, Vikings’ coach Robert Cody said his team is motivated by its abrupt ending to its state title run last season, when his team fell in the last second to Jones Senior in the second round.
No. 15 Weldon (3-7) at No. 2 Williamston (8-3)
The key word that comes to mind when thinking about Weldon is “smash-mouth.” The 15th seeded Chargers (Tarboro Conference) will attack the Atlantic Conference champion Tigers with a powerful ball control style attack that can be very effective in the postseason.
With Weldon chewing up the clock, the Tigers will need to maximize their opportunities and must get big plays from running backs Cedric Moody and Emery Griggs.
Though playoff football is all about rushing the ball, with Weldon using a lot six man fronts, McGill, the Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, said he will rely on quarterback Jarrett Coffield to make a lot of quick passing plays.
Defensively, the Tigers are well equipped to handle the Chargers rushing attack. Linebackers DeBrian and DeBriant Everett are a terror on the line of scrimmage and will play a big role for Williamston if they are to advance to the second round.
No. 14 Northampton-West (4-6) at No. 3 Jamesville (8-2)
The Tideland Conference champion Bullets face an intriguing matchup in their first-round opponent Northampton-West. Coming out of the Tarboro Conference, Northampton-West uses versatile looks on offense, while bringing heavy pressure on defense.
When it has the ball, Northampton-West is comfortable operating out of spread formations as well as what Jamesville coach Richie Ange referred to as a Maryland I. The Maryland I is a power formation that lines up three running backs in an I formation, along with two tight ends.
On defense, Northampton-West uses a 6-2 front and likes to get after the quarterback. Ange, whose Bullets’ offense varies from spread to wishbone formations, said that he would likely counteract the blitzing defense with a lot of three receiver sets.
Ange said what his team needs to do most is cut back on mistakes, and score when it is in the red zone.
No. 11 Perquimans (5-6) at No. 6 Creswell (7-3)
The Creswell Tigers will host their first playoff game since 1992 tonight as they will battle the Perquimans Pirates. Perquimans (Albemarle Conference) has been inconsistent all season, but Creswell coach Wayne Rodgers said the Pirates will be a tough first-round opponent.
The Pirates run a double-wing offense, which relies heavily of veer plays. On defense, Perquimans will start out in a 5-2 and adjust from there.
The Tigers should not be caught off guard by the Pirates considering that they run a similar offense and defense.
Led by freshman running back Jamel Sawyer, the Tigers also run an effective double-wing offense. Sawyer finished the season with over 700 yards. Defensively, Rodgers said he likes to use a lot of five man fronts.
Rodgers has a youthful team that fields only two seniors, and said that his squad is excited to be playing at home.
No. 10 Northside (3-8) at No. 7 Roanoke (7-4)
Having just played each other three weeks ago, the Redskins and Panthers will battle again in the opening round of the playoffs. Both teams know what to expect from one another by now, so it becomes a matter of which team executes the best. However, after losing 44-13 to Roanoke in the regular season, Northside may have to do a little more than just execute.
To make it past a very talented Redskins team, the Panthers will have to play flawless football, and catch a break here and there.
While the Panthers rely on using different formations and some trickery on offense, the Redskins are polar opposites. Roanoke will predominately run its offense out of the wing-T, attacking the outside of the football field behind star fullback Savion Hudson.
Once Roanoke has established its running game, it will open up its offense a bit by running play-action passes.
Redskins’ quarterback Alonza Higgs excels at throwing on the run, and is very dangerous on bootlegs passes.
No. 12 Mattamuskeet (4-7) at No. 5 Northampton East (7-3)
The good news for Mattamuskeet is that the Lakers are familiar with their first-round opponent. The bad news is that in its meeting earlier this year, Northampton-East (Tarboro Conference) topped the Lakers 46-0.
Mattamuskeet is led by first-year coach Rick Perry, and his team will have to stop the Rams’ Laquan Jacobs if it wants to win. In their earlier meeting, Jacobs tallied 99 yards, while as a team Mattamuskeet could only muster 77.